Process of treating zinc-coated wire



PROCESS OF TREATING ZINC COATED WIRE Filed Aug. 13, 1931 gm-center Tran/171 0 wle,

Patented Feb. 7, 1933 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE FRANK F. FOWLE, OF WINNETKA, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO INDIANA STEEL & WIRE COMPANY, OF MUNCIE, INDIANA, A CORPORATION OF INDIANA PROCESS OF TREATING ZINC-COATED WIRE Application filed August 13, 1931. Serial N0. 556,856.

It is the object of my invention to improve the quality of zinc-coated wire.

Zinc has the property of being toughened and densified by being worked mechanically in a certain critical range of temperature. This range is from about 100 C. to about 150 0.; and within this temperature range it has malleability and ductility, and can be worked mechanically to advantage. At lower and higher temperatures, it cannot be mechanically worked so advantageously, or with the same beneficial results.

My present invention takes advantage of this property of zinc. I heat the zinc-coated wire to a temperature within the limits of this critical-temperature range, and then draw it through a die.

The accompanying drawing illustrates my invention. The single figure in said drawing is a diagram showing an apparatus for carrying out my process.

The wire 10 to be treated, desirably a ferrous wire, has been suitably zinc-coated, as by the hot-galvanizing rocess. This zinccoated wire 10, after being suitably heated to a temperature within the aforesaid range where zinc has ductility and malleability, is supplied from any suitable source, such as a pay-out reel 11, to a wire-drawing die 12; through which it is drawn by the usual takeup block 13. The heating of the zinc-coated wire may be in any convenient way. The wire may be pre-heated in a furnace, and placed hot on the pay-out reel 11; in which case it is desirable to have a suitable heat-retaining cover 14 over the pay-out reel and the roll of wire thereon. Instead, or in addition, a pre-heating furnace 15 may be located between the pay-out reel 11 and the die 12, and the wire passed through it to be heated tothe desired temperature ust before it reaches the die. The actual eatin in either case may be to a temperature slig litly higher than the working temperature desired, to allow for a slight subsequent cooling before drawing.

The wire 10 has its zinc at a temperature within the critical range by the time it reaches the die 13. That die works the wire as a whole, including the zinc of the coating,

with the result of toughening the zinc, densifying the zinc, and glving the whole Wire a final accurate diameter.

I claim as my invention 1. The process of treating zine-coated wire, which consists in drawing such wire through a die to reduce its diameter while it is at a temperature within the temperature range where zinc is improved in quality by mechanical working.

2. The process of treating zinc-coated wire, which consists in drawing such wire through a die to reduce its diameter while it is at a temperature between about 100 C. and about 150 C.

3. The process of treating zinc-coated ferrous wire, which consists in drawing such wire through a die to reduce its diameter while it is at a temperature within the temperature range where zinc is improved in quality by mechanical working.

4. The process of treating zinc-coated ferrous wire, which consists in drawing such wire through a die to reduce its diameter while it is at a temperature between about 100 C. and about 150 C.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand at Indianapolis, Indiana, this 11th day of August, A. D. one thousand nine hundred and thirty-one.

FRANK F. FOWLE. 

